Device for producing milk foam

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a device  1  for producing milk foam, which makes use of Couette flow and a high shear stress that is accordingly applied to a milk-air mixture between two concentrically arranged cylinders  2, 3 . The cylinders are rotated relatively to another. The high shear stress leads to an emulsion of the milk and the air, which is the basis for a foaming effect, once the emulsion flows out of a gap  6  between the two cylinders  2, 3  and expands. The parameters of the device  1  that mainly influence the foaming effect are the width of the gap  6  and the relative rotation speed of the cylinders.

The present invention is directed to a device for foaming a fluid,preferably for producing milk foam. In particular the device is designedin a way that it can be positioned to produce foam in-line of a fluidflow path. The device of the present invention uses high shear energyexperienced by the fluid in the device as foaming energy for producingthe foam.

In the state of the art devices for producing milk foam are known,wherein the foaming of the milk is typically carried out in batchprocesses. For example, a device is known that has a reservoir, intowhich milk can be filled. A rotating part in the reservoir, for examplea whisk provided at the bottom surface of the reservoir, causes thefoaming of the milk. Such a device for producing milk foam, however, canproduce only a predetermined amount of milk foam at the same time, i.e.in one batch process. Afterwards, the device needs to be emptied,preferably cleaned, and refilled with milk before the next batch processcan be started. Furthermore, such a device cannot be implemented in-lineof a fluid flow path, and thus e.g. in a device for producing orproviding milk or other beverages.

Further, the state of the art includes devices that inject hot steaminto milk that is filled into a reservoir, in order to cause foaming.However, such devices cannot be used in-line of a fluid flow path ofe.g. a beverage producing device.

For the above-mentioned state of the art devices, the factors thatinfluence the foaming of the milk are, for example, the geometry of therotating part, like the whisk, or the temperature and/or pressure of thesteam that is injected into the milk. These factors are difficult tounderstand, and are not easy to control accurately without building morecomplicated devices. Therefore, the milk foam of many simple state ofthe art foaming devices is often produced unreliably, i.e. theproperties of the foam like volume, foaming level, foam stability etc.differ from one batch process to another.

The goal of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioneddisadvantages, and to improve the state of the art. In particular, thepresent invention has an object to provide a device for foaming a fluid,preferably for producing milk foam, which can be implemented in-line ofa fluid flow path. Further, the present invention desires to provide adevice, with which the foam can be produced more reliably. Therefore,the factors influencing the foaming effect should be betterunderstandable and easier to control accurately. Finally, an object ofthe present invention is to provide a simple and robust device that hasa long life time.

In the following the description of the present invention is given inview of foaming of milk. However, the invention is not limited to milkas a fluid, but can also be applied to other fluids, e.g. chocolate orcoffee. Consequently, other foams than milk foam can be achieved by thepresent invention as well.

For foaming of milk, in general both milk and air have to be provided insome manner as shown in FIG. 1. Optionally, the milk and/or the air canbe heated. Further, some kind of foaming energy has to be provided tothe milk and the air, in order to produce the milk foam. The presentinvention bases on the idea that the foaming energy is provided as ahigh shear energy. The high shear energy is achieved by designing thedevice such that a milk-air mixture is passed at least partly by Couetteflow through the device.

Couette flow refers to a laminar flow of a viscous fluid in a spacebetween two parallel plates. The basic principle of Couette flow isshown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2 a movable two-dimensional boundary platemoves with a certain velocity u in respect to a stationarytwo-dimensional boundary plate. In between the two boundary plates ispresent a fluid. The movement of the movable boundary plate causes thefluid to move. Two boundary conditions define the movement of the fluid.Directly at the stationary boundary plate, the fluid does not move atall, due to friction forces at the stationary boundary plate. Therefore,the velocity u is zero. Directly at the movable boundary plate, frictioncauses the fluid to move with the velocity u of the movable boundaryplate.

In a simple model, the velocity u of the fluid increases linearly in adirection y measured from the stationary boundary plate. Thereby, ashear stress τ is caused in the fluid, which depends on the distancebetween the two boundary plates, the viscosity of the fluid, and theabsolute velocity of the moving boundary plate. The shear stress in thefluid results in a shear energy, which can be used as foaming energy.Details will be described by the present invention.

The present invention realizes the above-mentioned principle with adevice according to the attached independent claims. The independentclaims solve the above-mentioned problems of the state of the art.Further advantages of the present invention are developed in theattached dependent claims.

In particular, the present invention is directed to a device forproducing milk foam comprising an outer cylinder, an inner cylinderarranged concentrically within the outer cylinder, a fluid inlet and afluid outlet, wherein the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder arerotatable with respect to each other, wherein a gap is formed betweenthe outer cylinder and the inner cylinder, and wherein the gap connectsthe fluid inlet with the fluid outlet.

The two boundary plates shown in FIG. 2 are respectively realized by theouter wall of the inner cylinder and the inner wall of the outercylinder. The movement of the movable boundary plate against thestationary boundary plate in FIG. 2 is caused by the relative movementof the inner cylinder against the outer cylinder. The cylinders have acommon rotation axis. The distance between the boundary plates in FIG. 2is defined by the width of the gap, through which a fluid, preferablymilk and air, flows from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet. That meansmilk and air are preferably provided to the fluid inlet of the device.Consequently, following the principle described in respect to FIG. 2,the milk-air mixture experiences a high shear stress in the gap.

The high shear stress leads to an emulsion of the air and the milk. Assoon as the emulsified milk-air mixture leaves the gap it expands. Dueto the expansion a foaming effect is achieved, since the size of airbubbles within the milk increases abruptly. Therefore, generallyspeaking a high shear energy contained in the milk-air mixture is usedto provide the foaming energy, which is necessary to produce the milkfoam.

The device is designed such that it can be positioned in-line with aflow path of the milk, since the milk can flow into the fluid inlet,through the gap, and out of the fluid outlet. The device 1 is thereforesuited to continuously receive milk from a reservoir and convert it intomilk foam.

Factors that influence the milk foam properties are e.g. the width ofthe gap, the tangential speed of the cylinders with respect to eachother, the cylinder surface and the time during which the milk isexposed to the shear stress, i.e. the time spent in the device. Suchparameters are easy to understand and can be controlled precisely.Moreover, the device can be designed rather simple, but can stillproduce very reliable results.

Preferably, a width of the gap in the radius direction of the innercylinder and the outer cylinder is in a range of 0.2 to 1.0 mm, evenmore preferably in a range of 0.3 to 0.6 mm.

As has been stated above, the shear stress experienced by the milk-airmixture in the device depends largely on the width of the gap that isformed between the two cylinder walls. Here the gap diameter is chosensuch that a shear stress is achieved, which yields an optimal foamingeffect of the milk. That means, for instance, that the foaming effectleads to milk foam having optimal properties. When referring toproperties of the foam, the present invention understands e.g. a desiredvolume, good foam stability and/or a sufficient foaming level. Stabilityis defined by the amount of time the milk foam is stable, i.e.substantially keeps its volume. The foaming level is defined by a ratioof the volume of the milk fed into the fluid inlet to the volume of themilk foam dispensed out of the fluid outlet.

Preferably, the fluid outlet has a diameter that is larger than thewidth of the gap, preferably in a range of 2 to 10 mm.

The broadening of the fluid outlet compared to the width of the gapleads to the expansion of the milk-air emulsion produced by the highshear stress resulting from the relative rotation of the two cylinders.The expansion increases the size of air bubbles within the milk-airmixture, and thus causes a foaming effect. The preferred diameter of thefluid outlet causes an expansion that achieves milk foam with optimalproperties.

Preferably, the inner cylinder comprises a first part having a largerdiameter and a second part having a smaller diameter, the gap is formedbetween the first part of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, anda chamber is formed between the second part of the inner cylinder andthe outer cylinder.

The offset between the two cylinders creates a first zone (in this casethe gap) between the two cylinders, where the milk-air mixtureexperiences higher shear stress, and a second zone (in this case thechamber) between the two cylinders, where the milk-air mixtureexperiences lower shear stress. The high shear zone is used foremulsification of the milk-air mixture, whereas the low shear zone isused for expansion of the emulsification. Thereby, the foaming effectcan be generated between the two concentric cylinders. If further thefluid outlet is even lager in diameter than the chamber between the twocylinders, a further expansion and foaming effect can occur. The devicecould even be designed such or means could be provided in the device, sothat the chamber diameter is adjustable. Thus, the foaming effect andthe properties of the milk foam could be controlled and adjusted.

Preferably, the chamber has a width in the radius direction of the innercylinder and the outer cylinder in a range of 2 to 10 mm.

With the preferred values for the chamber width, the optimal foamproperties can be achieved within the device.

Preferably, the device further comprises a motor for rotating the innercylinder with respect to the outer cylinder.

Preferably, the motor is adapted to rotate the inner cylinder with arotation speed in a range of 4000 to 8000 rpm with respect to the outercylinder.

The shear stress between the two cylinders depends on the movementvelocity, i.e. the relative rotation speed of the two cylinders. Thepreferred values for the rotation speed have been found to yield thebest foaming effect. That means the generated milk foam has the optimalproperties.

The relative rotation speed can be achieved by fixing the outer cylinderand rotating the inner cylinder with the above-given speed values, orvice versa. The relative rotation speed can also be achieved by rotatingthe two cylinders in opposite directions to another.

Preferably, the motor comprises a shaft provided with a head part thatcomprises at least one first magnet, the inner cylinder comprises atleast one second magnet, and the at least one first magnet and the atleast one second magnet are adapted to contactlessly transfer a rotationof the motor shaft onto the inner cylinder.

Due to the fact that the inner cylinder is driven magnetically, theshaft does not need to be mechanically connected to or inserted into theinner cylinder. Therefore, less friction will occur in the device, sinceno friction between the shaft and a guiding to or into the innercylinder exists for rotating of the device. Less friction results inless energy consumption and a longer life time of the device.

Preferably, the device further comprises a water-impermeable separationelement arranged between the motor and the inner cylinder.

The water-impermeable separation of inner cylinder and the motor ispossible due to the magnetic coupling that transfers the rotation of theshaft onto the inner cylinder. The risk that milk enters from the gapinto the part of the device, in which the motor is housed, is more orless eliminated. The motor thus requires less cleaning, since it is notcontaminated with milk, and has also a longer expected life time.Preferably, the separation element is made of metal or plastic. Theseparation element can be part of a housing of the device.

Preferably, the inner cylinder is a rotor and the outer cylinder is astator.

The inner cylinder is thus preferably rotated against a fixed outercylinder. The shear stress in the gap depends also on which of the twocylinders is rotated. Best results for foaming the milk have been foundwith only the inner cylinder rotating. Then the resulting milk foam hasthe best properties.

Preferably, a diameter of the outer cylinder is in a range of 25 to 35mm, preferably about 30 mm.

The total volume of the gap defined between the two cylinders, whichdepends not only on the width of the gap but also on the absolutediameters of the two cylinders, yields the desired amount of milk foamper time, when the device is operated.

Preferably, the device further comprises a heater for heating fluidflowing from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet.

Heating of the milk and/or air provided via the fluid inlet into the gapcan enhance the foaming effect due to additional available energy and/orprotein denaturation. Further, hot milk foam is typically desired forpreparing beverages like cappuccino or the like. The heater ispreferably integrated within one of the two cylinders. For, example, theheater can be housed inside the inner cylinder. If the inner cylinder isfurther made of a heat conducting material, preferably a metal the heatcan be well transferred to the outer surface of the inner cylinder. Theouter surface defines the gap, and can thus efficiently heat up themilk-air mixture flowing through the gap. Preferably, the heater heatsthe cylinder surface along the complete length (i.e. the height) of theinner cylinder.

In an embodiment, the outer cylinder has an inner wall and the innercylinder has an outer wall, the inner wall and the outer wall realizingtwo parallel boundary plates, the relative movement of the innercylinder against the outer cylinder causing a Couette flow of a fluid ina space between the two parallel plates.

The invention also relates to a method for producing milk foam in adevice as described above. The method comprises rotating with respect toeach other the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a use of milk as a fluid tobe frothed by a device as described above.

In the following the present invention is described in more detail withreference to the attached figures.

FIG. 1 shows schematically a basic principle for producing milk foam.

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b show schematically a basic principle of Couette flowfor generating shear stress.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic of a device for producing milk foam accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a cross section of a device for producing milk foamaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a device for producing milk foamaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic of a device for producing milk foam accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows schematically a device 1 for producing milk foam accordingto the present invention. The device 1 comprises an outer cylinder 2,which is at least partly hollow, wherein the hollow defines an innerdiameter o of the outer cylinder 2. Inside of the outer cylinder 2, i.e.inside the hollow, is arranged an inner cylinder 3 concentrically withthe outer cylinder 2. The inner cylinder 3 has an outer diameter i. Theouter cylinder 2 and the inner cylinder 3 are rotatable against eachother around a common rotation axis. To this end, preferably the innercylinder 3 is rotatable around the rotation axis, which is indicated inFIG. 3 by the broken line, i.e. the inner cylinder 3 is a rotator. Theouter cylinder 2 is preferably fixed, i.e. the outer cylinder 2 ispreferably a stator. The outer cylinder can e.g. be held fixed in abeverage producing device, which includes the device for producing milkfoam of the present invention. Alternatively, the outer cylinder 2 canbe a housing of the device 1 of the present invention, which can be heldfixed by its own weight or the weight of the device 1 when e.g. standingon a surface. However, other solutions are possible, for example, thatthe outer cylinder 2 is rotated against a fixed inner cylinder 3 or thatboth cylinders 2 and 3 are rotated against each other.

The outer diameter i of the inner cylinder 3 is smaller than the innerdiameter o of the outer cylinder 2, so that a gap 6 is formed betweenthe cylinders, which has a width w that is defined by the difference ofthe respective cylinder diameters (i.e. w=o−i/2). The gap 6 connects afluid inlet 4 of the device 1 with a fluid outlet 5 of the device 1 in away that a fluid, e.g. milk provided together with air, can pass throughthe device 1. That means in use of the device 1, preferably milk and airare entered into the fluid inlet 4, the mixture then flows through thegap 6 along the extension direction of the two cylinders 2 and 3 (i.e.the height of the cylinders), and finally exits the device 1 through thefluid outlet 5.

Since the inner cylinder 3 is rotated with respect to the outer cylinder2, while the milk-air mixture flows through the gap 6, the mixtureexperiences a high shear stress according to the principles of theCouette flow explained above. The high shear stress causes an emulsionof the milk and the air. After the emulsion flows out from the gap 6 andof the device 1 through the fluid outlet 5, the emulsion expands and isthereby foamed, because air bubbles within the milk expand abruptly.Preferably, the width w of the gap 6, as measured in the direction ofthe radius of the inner cylinder 3 and the outer cylinder 2,respectively, is in a range of 0.1 to 1 mm, more preferably 0.2 to 0.6mm, most preferably 0.3 to 0.5 mm. With such a gap the best foamproperties for milk foam are achieved.

The inner cylinder 3 can be solid or hollow. The inner cylinder 3 caninclude a heater 15, which is adapted to heat the milk and the airflowing through the gap 6.

Alternatively, the heater can be arranged in the outer cylinder and thusheat the milk and the air flowing through the gap 6 from the outside.The heater 15 can be provided with electricity or it can include partsthat move due to the rotation of the rotating cylinder, and are designedto convert the movement into heat.

FIG. 4 shows the device 1 in a cross-sectional view. The inner cylinder3 is located within the outer cylinder 2, and the gap 6 is formedbetween the cylinders 2 and 3, through which the milk-air mixture canflow and exit at the fluid outlet 5. The fluid outlet 5 preferably hasan inner diameter d that is substantially larger than the width w of thegap 6. Preferably, the diameter d is in a range of 1 to 20 mm, morepreferably 2 to 10 mm, most preferably 5 to 10 mm. A ratio of the widthof the gap 6 to the diameter d of the fluid outlet is preferably between1:1 and 1:200, more preferably between 1:3 and 1:50, most preferablybetween 1:5 and 1:30. Due to the expansion of the milk-air mixtureflowing out from the gap 6 into the fluid outlet 5, air bubbles withinthe milk increase in size, whereby a foaming of the milk is caused.Thus, the device 1 can provide milk from at its fluid outlet 5.

FIG. 4 also shows that the device 1 comprises a motor 8, which isadapted to cause the rotation of the inner cylinder 3 with respect tothe outer cylinder 2. The motor 8 is preferably provided separately tothe two cylinders 2 and 3 e.g. in a separate chamber of the device 1 orat least with a separation 13, e.g. a plate, between the motor 8 and thecylinders 2 and 3. The separation 13 is preferably water impermeable, sothat milk cannot enter the part of the device 1, in which the motor 8 islocated.

The motor 8 has preferably a shaft 9, which is rotated. The shaft 9 ispreferably provided with a head part 10, which is wider than the shaft 9and includes at least one first magnet 11. The separation 13 between themotor 8 and the inner cylinder 3 preferably comprises a protrudingportion 13 a, in which a recess 13 b for receiving the head part 10 ofthe motor 8 is formed. The protruding portion 13 a of the separation 13is preferably received by a recess on the top surface of the innercylinder 3. The inner cylinder 3 is preferably provided with at leastone second magnet 12 arranged near its top surface, which is configuredand positioned such that it interacts magnetically with the at least onefirst magnet 11 arranged in the head part 10 of the motor 8.

When the shaft 9 is rotated by the motor 8, the at least one firstmagnet 11 is also rotated and transfers its rotation through themagnetic coupling onto the at least one second magnet 12 of the innercylinder 3. Thus, the rotation of the inner cylinder 3 with respect tothe outer cylinder 2 is caused.

Preferably, the relative rotation speed of the two cylinders 2, 3against each other is in a range of 1000 to 15000 rpm, more preferably2000 and 10000 rpm, most preferably 4000 and 8000 rpm. With thepreferred rotation speed the best emulsification of the air-milk mixturein the gap 6 is achieved, and the best foaming properties of the milkfoam are realized after expansion. Due to the contactless transfer ofthe rotation of the motor shaft 9 to a rotation of preferably the innercylinder 3, the part of the device 1, which includes the motor 8, can beseparated from the part of the device 1, which includes the twocylinders 2, 3. This separation avoids that milk enters the part of thedevice 1, which includes the motor 8. The milk could harm the electricalor mechanical parts of the motor 8. Thus, by decoupling the two parts ofthe device 1, a longer life time is achieved. Further, the parts of themotor 8 are not contaminated with milk, and thus need not necessarily becleaned very often.

FIG. 5 shows the device 1 in a perspective view. The device 1 comprisestwo parts, an upper part 1 a that includes the motor 8 and a lower part1 b that includes the two cylinders 2 and 3. The two parts 1 a and 1 bof the device 1 are preferably coupled together by two flanges 14 a and14 b, and are fixed with screws 15 as shown in FIG. 5. An upper flange14 a can be designed to hold the motor 8 of the device 1, and a lowerflange 14 b can be designed to hold the cylinders 2 and 3 of the device1. The upper flange 14 a can also be produced integrally with a housingof the motor 8, and the lower flange 14 b can be produced integrallywith the outer cylinder 2. At least the lower flange 14 b acts as theseparation 13 of motor 8 and cylinders, as can be gathered from FIG. 4.The fluid inlet 4 is preferably arranged on an outer side surface of theouter cylinder 2, and can be produced integrally with the outer cylinder2. The same is true for the fluid outlet 5, which is preferably arrangedon an outer bottom surface of the outer cylinder 2, and is preferablyproduced integrally with the outer cylinder 2.

Both the fluid inlet 4 and the fluid outlet 5 are preferably designed toattach a fluid line, like a tube. The device 1 can then e.g. beintegrated into a beverage producing device having e.g. pumps to providemilk and air to the fluid inlet 4. Alternatively, the device 1 itselfcan be provided with a mechanism so that a relative rotation of thecylinders 2 and 3 causes milk and air to be sucked into the fluid inlet4, e.g. via a tube leading into an external milk reservoir. Through thefluid outlet 5 the milk foam can be provided directly, or can beprovided via a tube to a dispenser. The device 1 of the presentinvention can thus provide milk foam in-line of a flow path of the milk,and can e.g. be part of a beverage producing device, e.g. a coffeemachine.

FIG. 6 shows a cross section of an alternative embodiment of the device1 of the present invention. The inner cylinder 3 comprises a first part3 a and a second part 3 b. The first part 3 a has diameter i that islarger than a diameter a of the second part 3 b. In particular, adiameter i of the first part 3 a is preferably chosen such that a gap 6of a width w in a range of 0.1 to 1 mm, more preferably 0.2 to 0.6 mm,most preferably 0.3 to 0.5 mm is formed between a first part 3 a and theouter cylinder 2. The diameter s of the second part 3 b of the innercylinder 3 is preferably designed such that a chamber 7 is formedbetween the second part 3 b and the outer cylinder 2, wherein thechamber 7 has preferably a width measured in the radius direction of theinner cylinder 3 that is larger than the width w of the gap 6,preferably in a range of 1 to 20 mm, more preferably 2 to 10 mm. Thediameter o of the outer cylinder 2 is preferably 20 to 40 mm, morepreferably 30 mm as in the first embodiment of the present invention.Therefore, the diameter s of the second part 3 b is most preferably in arange of 20 to 28 mm, and the diameter i of the first part 3 a is mostpreferably in a range of 27.5 to 27.7 mm as in the first embodiment.

Milk and air provided to the fluid inlet 4 for flowing through the gap 6are emulsified due to the high shear forces experienced in the narrowgap 6 between the inner cylinder 3 and the outer cylinder 2, when theinner cylinder 3 is rotated with respect to the outer cylinder 2. Whenthe emulsified milk-air mixture flows out of the gap 6 into the chamber7, it is expanded and consequently foamed. Due to the expansion, thefoam is pressed out of the fluid outlet 5. If the fluid outlet 5 is evenlarger in diameter than the chamber 7, the milk is foamed even more.

Preferably, both embodiments of the present invention are designed suchthat a shear stress value for the milk in the gap 6 that is in a rangefrom 20 to 80 Pa, more preferably, 30 to 60 Pa, most preferably of 40 to50 Pa is achieved, when assuming Newton's law of viscosity. The resultsin terms of milk foam quality depend not only on the instantaneous shearstress, but on the time during which this shear stress is applied. Atypical value is 0.2 s at a shear stress of 40 to 50 Pa, but goodresults are also obtained with longer times. The preferred shear stressvalues can be achieved by a gap having a width w of preferably 0.1 to 1mm, more preferably 0.2 to 0.6 mm, most preferably 0.3 to 0.5 mm, arotation speed of preferably 1000 and 15000 rpm, more preferably 2000and 10000 rpm, most preferably 4000 and 8000 rpm, an inner diameter o ofthe outer cylinder 2 of preferably 20 to 40 mm, more preferably 30, andby using milk that has at ambient temperature (20° C.). Milk at ambienttemperature is assumed to have a viscosity of μ=2 mPa·s and is assumedto be a Newtonian fluid.

In summary, the present invention provides a device 1 for producing milkfoam, which makes use of the Couette flow principle, and uses a highshear stress that is applied to a milk-air mixture between two cylinders2, 3 rotating against each other. The shear stress leads to an emulsionof the milk and the air, which again leads to a foaming effect, once theemulsion flows out of a gap 6 between the two cylinders 2, 3 andexpands. The parameters of the device 1, i.e. the key factors for thefoam quality are the size of the gap 6, the size of the chamber 7 (forthe second alternative) and the relative rotation speed of the innercylinder 3 with respect to the outer cylinder 2. These factors are mucheasier to understand and control then, for example, the geometry ofwhisks in some state of the art devices, or parameters of state of theart devices that use hot steam injection. Thus, milk foam can beproduced in a well controlled way with a relatively simple device. Thefoam can be in-line of a flow path of milk.

1. Device for producing milk foam comprising: an outer cylinder; aninner cylinder arranged concentrically within the outer cylinder; afluid inlet and a fluid outlet; the outer cylinder and the innercylinder are rotatable with respect to each other; a gap is formedbetween the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder; and the gap connectsthe fluid inlet with the fluid outlet.
 2. Device for producing milk foamaccording to claim 1, wherein a width of the gap in the radius directionof the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder is in a range of 0.3 to 0.5mm.
 3. Device for producing milk foam according to claim 1, wherein: thefluid outlet has a diameter that is greater than the width of the gap.4. Device for producing milk foam according to claim 1, wherein: theinner cylinder comprises a first part having a greater diameter and asecond part having a smaller diameter; the gap is formed between thefirst part of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder; and a chamberis formed between the second part of the inner cylinder and the outercylinder.
 5. Device for producing milk foam according to claim 4,wherein the chamber has a width in the radius direction of the innercylinder and the outer cylinder in a range of 2 to 10 mm.
 6. Device forproducing milk foam according to claim 1 comprising a motor for rotatingthe inner cylinder with respect to the outer cylinder.
 7. Device forproducing milk foam according to claim 6, wherein the motor adapted torotate the inner cylinder at a rotation speed in a range of 4000 to 8000rpm with respect to the outer cylinder.
 8. Device for producing milkfoam according to claim 6, wherein: the motor comprises a shaft providedwith a head part that comprises at least one first magnet; the innercylinder comprises at least one second magnet; and the at least onefirst magnet and the at least one second magnet are adapted tocontactlessly transfer a rotation of the motor shaft onto the innercylinder.
 9. Device for producing milk foam according to claim 6comprising a water-impermeable separation element arranged between themotor and the inner cylinder.
 10. Device for producing milk foamaccording to claim 1, wherein the inner cylinder is a rotor and theouter cylinder is a stator.
 11. Device for producing milk foam accordingto claim 1, wherein a diameter of the outer cylinder is in a range of 25to 35 mm.
 12. Device for producing milk foam according to claim 1comprising a heater for heating liquid flowing from the fluid inlet tothe fluid outlet.
 13. Device for producing milk foam according to claim1, wherein: the outer cylinder has an inner wall; the inner cylinder hasan outer wall; and the inner wall and the outer wall define two parallelboundary plates, the relative movement of the inner cylinder against theouter cylinder causing a Couette flow of a fluid in a space between thetwo parallel plates.
 14. Method for producing milk foam in a devicecomprising an outer cylinder an inner cylinder arranged concentricallywithin the outer cylinder, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the outercylinder and the inner cylinder are rotatable with respect to eachother, a gap is formed between the outer cylinder and the innercylinder, and the gap connects the fluid inlet with the fluid outletcomprising rotating with respect to each other the inner cylinder andthe outer cylinder to produce milk foam.
 15. (canceled)